"Our bishops storehouses are not intended to stock enough commodities to care for all the members of the Church. Storehouses are only established to care for the poor and the needy. For this reason, members of the Church have been instructed to personally store a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, where possible, fuel. By following this counsel, most members will be prepared and able to care for themselves and their family members, and be able to share with others as may be needed." (President Ezra Taft Benson)
I feel certain things are not about to improve any time soon, so I want to urge you to step it up on getting your storage in.
https://www.littlehouseliving.com/practical-food-storage-and-preparing-for-price-increases.html?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sequence+-+707324 - I keep saying this, but I love this gal. She will tell you how to prepare for price increases.
I can tell you that we live on a fixed income. I have a set amount for groceries unless unexpected bills come in, then it can go all the way to zero. But with a set amount, I have to be very creative. And yes, every month I get less and less where others may have to spend more and more. This is unsustainable in either case. But things are not getting better so it is best to think ahead. What big bills do you have coming at you? For example, car tags. Stick a little back each month for this then it won't be a no-grocery month when it is time to get the tags.
Plan. Be as frugal as you can. It will be scary for a while, but we will make it through. Will you be able to shop like before? Nope and if you do, you will have a harder time.
Christmas is coming. Be HONEST with your kids. We have to cut back right now so let's find things that don't cost that we like to do. Write it on strips of paper and when it is time, draw out something everyone can do. Parents - read the Candle in the Forest. The little girl's parents were too poor to get the little girl what she wanted so they came up with free fun things and made them special. We can do that. If we are excited about this, they will be too. If you are all "poor me" they will be too. We can do this! Everyone share a free Christmas idea for a family in the comments below. We will all get ideas from each other!
They are saying health insurance is going to get a lot more expensive while also covering less. This will be very hard. The insurance we have now have already started covering less and have told us we are getting no benefits. So plan for that as you can.
The gal in the link at the beginning of this post mentioned gardening. Now you know why I do it even though I hate it so. It is like asking someone if you hate cleaning toilets so much, why do you do it??Because I have to, is the answer.
We are almost to the end of the garden for this year but it still is giving us produce. I am still putting it up.
So be thinking about how to grow food either in a garden or in containers.
When you go through the aisles in the grocery store and you see a nice side dish instead ask yourself - can I make this? Try doing that with many convenience foods, think - can I do this myself?
This is why I encourage making mixes plus I step up my mix making at this time of year as well.
https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/10/monday-message_12.html - there are mix ideas in this post.
https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/10/monday-message.html - frugal Christmas gift ideas.
https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2025/03/monday-message.html - mix ideas here.
https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2025/02/monday-message_17.html - remember to give acts of kindness. They're so very needed. Have you noticed there's so many more unhappy people? Even a smile can warm a soul and it costs us nothing.
https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/08/monday-message_31.html - more mixes.
https://www.littlehouseliving.com/scone-mix-recipe.html - I like her mix here. If you cannot eat eggs, this is a fantastic recipe I keep on hand always. Look around her site, she has more mixes as well.
Do you ever feel like you don't have time for making muffins? You want muffins for breakfast but it is hard to get them done in time. Here is what I do... I mix all the dry ingredients and in the morning add the wet ingredients and go from there. You can do this with lots of things.
There are many things on my blog posts, ramble around or type in the search what you are looking for.
Times are hard but they are going to get worse before they get better. We can do this. We are all in it together so let's share frugal ideas on getting groceries, on recipes, on Christmas gifts. Let's all share with each other!
Missy says work harder to get that storage in and build your skills...but also find joy!
Tippy Longstockings says keep pushing on, you are not alone!
Becky you are so right. Things are going to get much harder. I'll list some holiday things I did with my children that were very inexpensive. I would buy toys and books at the thrift stores and yard sales and keep them hidden in a box in my closet . Before Christmas, Id set up my Christmas Store on the bed. The children would draw numbers and then come in one at a time to pick out gifts for siblings. I'd put their " shopping" aside in my closet. After they had all " shopped" they would spend the afternoon secretly wrapping gifts. They loved doing this!
ReplyDeleteWe also had big cookie decorating days. One day was Dough Day. Second day was Baking Day. Third day was Decorating Day. Great fun very low cost.
We would also do a few theme type days that seem really simple but children will catch the enthusiasm the parents put into it. We had Peppermint Night which was just candy canes with a movie and use a candy cane to stir the hot chocolate.
My children also loved making " Gingerbread houses" but they used graham crackers instead of gingerbread.
And to make the holidays special I'd just take our everyday things and make them different. Like put a few Christmas sprinkles in our pancakes, or shape a homemade pizza like a Christmas tree etc. Doesn't cost any extra and adds some fun.
Sorry I haven't posted a comment in awhile. I've been really busy which has left me tired.
Ginger
Thank you so much for sharing those great ideas
Deletethank you for sharing..we now have great grand children who love being busy...so your ideas would work nicely
Deletethank you for sharing
Hi Becky, thank you so much for your great post. Things are getting increasingly tense here too. I think it's going to be a difficult Christmas for many families. Therefore, I also thank the anonymous commenter for the ideas.
ReplyDeleteMy strategy is to plan ahead. Saving up for larger bills in the long term is very important to avoid financial difficulties. Shopping for festive meals well in advance or postponing the Christmas dinner by a few days is also a good strategy. After Christmas, you can get the Christmas roast for half price, and it tastes just as good even after the holidays.
What's important is that you sit around the table with your loved ones at Christmas, talk, play games, and simply have time for each other.
With children, you can go on a little "night hike." They'll be thrilled to explore their surroundings in low light and have to go to bed later than usual.